1
as in sources
a point or place at which something is invented or provided
the origins of human language remain a matter of considerable debate
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in roots
the source from which something grows or develops
the origin of the tradition of giving presents at Christmastime
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in lineages
the line of ancestors from whom a person is descended
they could trace their origins back 15 generations
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of origins
Ragtime’s jubilant origins in vaudeville and communal dancing are apparent in its euphonious melodies and playful rhythms.
—
Aly Eleanor, Pitchfork, 19 Feb. 2026
Continue reading … AMERICAN CULTURE QUIZ — Test yourself on retro recipes and Olympic origins.
—FOXNews.com, 19 Feb. 2026
Military and dual-use AI capabilities, many with commercial origins, are being tested and deployed.
—Jared Cohen, Time, 18 Feb. 2026
Soma, a young woman who is searching for her own origins.
—Ed Meza, Variety, 18 Feb. 2026
Mineral-rich mud pools, thermal baths, and sulfur springs are reminders of the island's volcanic origins.
—Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 17 Feb. 2026
Canada’s Olympic curlers being accused of cheating could signal a significant turning point for a sport that appears to be evolving away from its hobbyist origins.
—Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 17 Feb. 2026
Each of these stories strikes some very contemporary nerves — conspiracy theorists, political justice, runaway capitalism, climate change — though their origins are not all rooted in the present.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 5 Feb. 2026
Beyond a better understanding of humanity’s origins, the study could help direct our species’ future.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 5 Feb. 2026
Aly Eleanor, Pitchfork, 19 Feb. 2026
Continue reading … AMERICAN CULTURE QUIZ — Test yourself on retro recipes and Olympic origins.
—FOXNews.com, 19 Feb. 2026
Military and dual-use AI capabilities, many with commercial origins, are being tested and deployed.
—Jared Cohen, Time, 18 Feb. 2026
Soma, a young woman who is searching for her own origins.
—Ed Meza, Variety, 18 Feb. 2026
Mineral-rich mud pools, thermal baths, and sulfur springs are reminders of the island's volcanic origins.
—Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 17 Feb. 2026
Canada’s Olympic curlers being accused of cheating could signal a significant turning point for a sport that appears to be evolving away from its hobbyist origins.
—Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 17 Feb. 2026
Each of these stories strikes some very contemporary nerves — conspiracy theorists, political justice, runaway capitalism, climate change — though their origins are not all rooted in the present.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 5 Feb. 2026
Beyond a better understanding of humanity’s origins, the study could help direct our species’ future.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 5 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for origins
Noun
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Two sources who attended the party described witnessing a loud verbal exchange between Nick Reiner and his parents.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Official casualty figures are kept strictly out of the public gaze, although estimates from multiple sources indicate losses that are eye-wateringly high.—
Matthew Chance,
CNN Money,
21 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The rink disparity’s roots go back to well before the countries’ current allocation of resources.—
Peter Baugh,
New York Times,
19 Feb. 2026
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The swearing-in ceremony drew an array of Texas Democrats and highlighted his labor organizer roots.—
Philip Jankowski,
Dallas Morning News,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The remixing of the ancient lineages then supported the modern gibbons' genetic health and enabled population regrowth.—
Julia Jacobo,
ABC News,
16 Feb. 2026
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These lineages of genius and generosity, our inheritances of these epistemologies and practices may soon become our only defense, our only offense, and our only wealth.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Lamu, Kenya Sitting in the Indian Ocean to the northeast of the Kenyan mainland, Lamu is one of the cradles of Swahili culture.—
Annabelle Dufraigne,
Architectural Digest,
15 Feb. 2026
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Married couples shared a bed, and one of their younger children might sleep with them, though infants had cradles.—
Bobbi Sutherland,
The Conversation,
19 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Furthermore, representing hope and new beginnings, even in the darkest moments.—
Marina Johnson,
Louisville Courier Journal,
22 Feb. 2026
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Furthermore, representing hope and new beginnings, even in the darkest moments.—
Marina Johnson,
IndyStar,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
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But many Chicanos trace their lineage to indigenous peoples who survived Spanish colonization, often carrying mixed indigenous, Spanish, and other ancestries, a testament to survival and cultural fusion.—
David Alvarado,
Time,
15 Dec. 2025
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This lack of representation is problematic for people of different ancestries because genetic risk factors differ across populations.—
Rachel Nuwer,
Scientific American,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
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All three are Nordic countries with populations above 5 million and strong winter sport pedigrees — Norway most of all.—
Peter Baugh,
New York Times,
19 Feb. 2026
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Jeremy and Cindy Bearman, a husband-wife duo with pedigrees from New York City’s ABC Kitchen and db Bistro Moderne, have created a seasonal menu that is technique-forward and expressive.—
USA TODAY NETWORK,
USA Today,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The seal texts often introduced the owners with their names, genealogies, gender, professions and hometowns.—
Serdar Yalçin,
The Conversation,
3 Nov. 2025
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Transcripts, grammars, vocabularies, dictionaries, glyph studies, botanical studies, commentaries, articles, editions of codices, correspondence, maps, charts, drawings, photographs, Maya Society materials, genealogies of Maya families, and Mayan glyphs on moveable type.—
The Editors,
JSTOR Daily,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Origins.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/origins. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
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